very winning in his demeanour, and Lady Annabel deeply regretted that a nature of so much promise and capacity should, by the injudicious treatment of a parent, at once fond and violent, afford such slight hopes of future happiness.  It was arranged between Lord Cadurcis and Lady Annabel that she should lead him to his mother, and that he should lament the past, and ask her forgiveness; so they re-entered the room.  Venetia was listening to a long story from Mrs. Cadurcis, who appeared to have entirely recovered herself; but her countenance assumed a befitting expression of grief and gravity when she observed her son.

‘My dear madam,’ said Lady Annabel, ’your son is unhappy that he should have offended you, and he has asked my kind offices to effect a perfect reconciliation between a child who wishes to be dutiful to a parent who, he feels, has always been so affectionate.’

Mrs. Cadurcis began crying.

‘Mother,’ said her son, ’I am sorry for what has occurred; mine was the fault.  I shall not be happy till you pardon me.’

‘No, yours was not the fault,’ said poor Mrs. Cadurcis, crying bitterly.  ’Oh! no, it was not!  I was in fault, only I. There, Lady Annabel, did I not tell you he was the sweetest, dearest, most generous-hearted creature that ever lived?  Oh! if he would only always speak so, I am sure I should be the happiest woman that ever breathed!  He puts me in mind quite of his poor dear father, who was an angel upon earth; he was indeed, when he was not vexed.  O my dear Plantagenet! my only hope and joy! you are the treasure and consolation of my life, and always will be.  God bless you, my darling child!  You shall have that pony you wanted; I am sure I can manage it:  I did not think I could.’

As Lady Annabel thought it was as well that the mother and the son should not be immediately thrown together after this storm, she kindly proposed that they should remain, and pass the day at Cherbury; and, as Plantagenet’s eyes brightened at the proposal, it did not require much trouble to persuade his mother to accede to it.  The day, that had commenced so inauspiciously, turned out one of the most agreeable, both to Mrs. Cadurcis and her child.  The two mothers conversed together, and, as Mrs. Cadurcis was a great workwoman, there was at least one bond of sympathy between her and the tapestry of her hostess.  Then they all took a stroll in the park; and as Mrs. Cadurcis was not able to walk for any length of time, the children were permitted to stroll about together, attended by Mistress Pauncefort, while Mrs. Cadurcis, chatting without ceasing, detailed to Lady Annabel all the history of her life, all the details of her various complaints and her economical arrangements, and all the secrets of her husband’s treatment of her, that favourite subject on which she ever waxed most eloquent.  Plantagenet, equally indulging in confidence, which with him, however, was unusual, poured all his soul into the charmed ear of Venetia.  He told her how he and his mother had lived at Morpeth, and how he hated it; how poor they had been, and how rich he should be; how he loved the abbey, and especially the old gallery, and the drums and armour; how he had been a day-scholar at a little school which he abhorred, and how he was to go some day to Eton, of which he was very proud.